"No choosing or booking in Choose and Book"

I saw my GP on monday who decided to I needed to be referred to a specialist, Choose and Book was not operational at the time so I had to wait 3 days for my letter - and had to make a further visit to the doctors as they would not give me the reference number or password over the phone.

When I got the letter it had already stated the hospital I was being referrred to - so, no choosing there

I call the number as the letter instructed (the service I was trying to access was not available online).

The person answering the phone took the password and reference number, confirmed my details and then told me that an appointment would be sent to me after the clinician had read my doctors referral letter so, no booking here - why on earth was I calling then? What is the purpose of getting the patient to call to confirm information that is already in the doctors referral letter? Madness! A process and a job that I feel could easily be removed entirely - less waste in the NHS and less waste of my time!